The Proclaimers have only had a handful of hits but they’re songs that have kept expanding for nearly 40 years. And the World Cup was a reminder of how far they’ve reached. Craig and Charlie Reid talk to us here about first adventures onstage, talent shows, the tour circuit, the new album ‘You May Offend’ and …

… the moment the Proclaimers took off

… first records bought in Woolworths in Fife (including the less-than-prophetic World Cup anthem Easy Easy)

… the fraternal voices of the Everly Brothers

… seeing Joy Division supporting Buzzcocks and feeling “the heat and charisma” of Ian Curtis

… the unique way they write songs

… getting royalties when your hits are sung in televised football stadiums

… their first gigs playing Stones, Kinks, Clash and Pistols covers plus a Talent Show in ’77 on a bill with “a lassie singing Scottish ballads and possibly a performing dog”

… recording at Rockfield and the ghost of Bohemian Rhapsody

... their new video imagining John & Yoko as they might be today

… how easy it is to offend Gen-Z

… and hitchhiking 60 miles to see Hibs and writing ‘The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues’ about it.

Order ‘You May Offend’ here: https://proclaimers.lnk.to/youmayoffend

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